Chatty Cafe Scheme to combat loneliness

AN Epping care home is opening its doors as part of the Chatty Cafe Scheme, which aims to reduce loneliness and encourage people to come together and talk.

The Chatty Cafe Scheme is a nonprofit organisation tackling loneliness in the UK, and Weald Hall will be hosting its own Chatter & Natter sessions.

Taking place in the home’s dining and bakery area, the cafe will be held on the first Friday of every month between 2pm and 4pm, with the first event taking place on June 2.

Visitors to the home can enjoy tea, cake and a natter with staff, residents and other guests.

Anyone is welcome to attend Weald Hall’s Chatty Cafe, whether it’s alone, as a couple, with a young child or as a carer.

Manager Danielle Barham said: “We know only too well the impact of loneliness on the community and we want our home to be a welcoming environment for everyone that visits us. Our residents love to meet people, and it helps them to form new friendships.

“We make it our mission to encourage social interactions wherever possible and that’s why we wanted to bring in a Chatter & Natter table.

“It’s for the whole community to use and we hope it will allow people a safe and inspiring space to have a chat.”

The scheme was founded in 2017 by Alexandra Hoskyn OBE, who started it due to her own feelings of isolation